Cairo, EGYPT: TO GO WITH STORY BY JOELLE BASSOUL Zar musicians and healers perform their ritual in Cairo late 21 June 2006. The Zar trans religious ceremony, which uses drumming and dancing to cure an illness thought to be caused by a demon, is most prominent in southern Egypt and is practiced further south into the Sudan, though in fact it may be performed anywhere in Egypt. The ritual, a type of a healing cult, is prohibited by Islam as a pagan practice but it continues to be part of Egypt's popular cult

Can this mystical musical tradition make comeback in Egypt?

Subscribe for less than $9/month to access this story and all Al-Monitor reporting.

Or continue reading this article for free - Access 1 free article per month when you sign up.

By entering your email, you agree to receive ALM's daily newsletter and occasional marketing messages.

Why Al-Monitor?

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the highest levels, as well as by media, thought and business leaders and academia.

Read by

White House logo European Union logo United Nations logo NATO logo Foreign & Commonwealth Office logo World Bank logo Harvard University logo Council for Foreign Relations logo
message icon

Live news & notifications

Follow over 100 expert journalists based across the region and get notified in real time of breaking stories and exclusives. *Expanded coverage on Energy & Defense sectors.
message icon

Premier analysis of the Middle East

Access the sharpest and most diverse regional minds giving you all the angles on regional trends.
message icon

Live events & video

Priority access to roundtables, summits and other events alongside ALM's global community of regional influencers.
message icon

Specialized Newsletters

Get timely reporting on key countries and sectors with up to 10 daily and weekly newsletters straight to your inbox.
message icon

Big, exclusive interviews

Follow conversations with the region's biggest names in politics and business.
message icon

ALM archives since 2012

Access a repository of over a decade's worth of regional coverage, insights and trends.
Cairo, EGYPT: TO GO WITH STORY BY JOELLE BASSOUL Zar musicians and healers perform their ritual in Cairo late 21 June 2006. The Zar trans religious ceremony, which uses drumming and dancing to cure an illness thought to be caused by a demon, is most prominent in southern Egypt and is practiced further south into the Sudan, though in fact it may be performed anywhere in Egypt. The ritual, a type of a healing cult, is prohibited by Islam as a pagan practice but it continues to be part of Egypt's popular cult

Subscribe for unlimited access

By becoming an Al-Monitor subscriber, you drive our team’s rigorous and independent journalism spanning the Middle East.